Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Loyal Verbatim reader Elena wanted to know if everything's OK here—she was surprised that I hadn't mentioned the healthcare reform bill on my blog. Everything's fine (if a bit hectic), but she's right to point out that I neglected to write about something so important.

I've had emails from readers in other countries congratulating me on this momentous occasion for our nation! Imagine that! It must be impossible for them to fathom how the mighty U. S. of A. can possibly have gone this far without ensuring such a basic necessity to millions of our citizens.

I for one am very much looking forward to being able to buy health insurance at the same rate that big companies do, even though Andy and I are both self-employed. We spend a bundle on health insurance for our family now, and it's never been something I'm willing to skimp on. (This "exchange" program won't be available until 2014, but at least it's in the works.) And no, we won't be paying any extra taxes for this. You can use the widget here to figure out how you'll be affected.

Here are just a few of the other provisions that'll be rolled out over the next 10 years:

• Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare prescription drug plan beneficiaries whose initial benefits run out.
• Provides immediate access to high-risk pools for people who have no insurance because of preexisting conditions.
• Bars insurers from denying people coverage when they get sick.
• Bars insurers from denying coverage to children who have preexisting conditions.
• Bars insurers from imposing lifetime caps on coverage.

These all seem like really reasonable provisions, don't you think? I can't imagine what everyone's all in a tizzy about. Indeed, "tizzy" may be the kindest way to describe what's going on over there on the right:

• 67 percent of Republicans believe that Obama is a socialist.
• 57 percent of Republicans believe that Obama is a Muslim.
• 45 percent of Republicans believe that Obama was "not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president"
• 38 percent of Republicans say that Obama is "doing many of the things that Hitler did"
• 24 percent of Republicans say that Obama "may be the Antichrist."

(Found here, via Scott.) I mean, really, Hitler?? The Antichrist?? What planet are these people from??

I urge you to read Bob Herbert's op-ed in the Times the other day. He's right: "At some point, we have to decide as a country that we just can’t have this." I have no problem with vigorous debate about issues and programs. But this virulent hate-spewing has gone way over the line.

Comments

[Tonya]

Agreed! ("Yes we did!")

[Wendy]

I've been a nervous wreck for weeks over this. It ain't over yet, alas. Lawsuits filed by GOP 10th-Amendment-nutcase governors, etc. etc. Sigh. I can't figure out what Obama's done, to inspire such venom. It's baffling.

[Wendy]

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/03/healthcare-reforms-immediate-impact

This summary is very interesting and informative.

[Elena]

LOL, I mentioned that poll and the Herbert column on Twitter yesterday. Great minds think alike! ;-) Also, I am getting fed up with those who claim that the level of invective was just as bad coming from the Democrats under Bush. No way was there this sort of threatening atmosphere, with members of Congress being called hateful epithets and our elected national leaders stirring the pot (think Sarah Palin & her Twitter comment yesterday that it is time for healthcare bill opponents to "reload.") Enough!

[Laura]

Hmmm, came here to say exactly what Elena says she's sick of hearing. Oh, well. Here it is. President Bush is still demonized daily. Sick of hearing it. He was ridiculed in a film called "W" before he was even out of office. Lots of hateful things said about him and even to him, then and now after he is no longer president. Yet no one remembers that or cares to mention it. It offends me. By the way, I read Mr. Herbert's article. He neglected to mention the ugly, despicable behavior of some liberals including some SEIU members and how they beat up a guy here in Missouri for trying to pass out "Don't Tread on Me" flags at a town hall meeting. He is lumping all Tea Party members and all Republicans in one pot as mean spirited and evil. Not every Tea Party member or Republican spits on people, incites violence, or ridicules the handicapped or the sick. Not true. But, to be fair, it was an op-ed piece, so of course it was going to be biased.

[Karen]

Laura, I think the point here is that Herbert is talking about Republican senators and representatives doing these despicable things, not random people out there. No elected Democrat that I can think of has ever resorted to hurling racial epithets at other congressmen. From what I've seen, Democrats debate the issues, and Republicans eventually bring race and religion into every debate -- and in an ugly way. Democrats are by no means without fault -- no one thinks that -- but the hate coming from the right is overwhelming. Liberals don't have a Rush Limbaugh or a Glenn Beck or any of those other mean, hateful guys spewing nasty, hate-filled filth on a daily basis. If you're about to suggest Jon Stewart or Keith Olbermann, I'm about to start laughing.

I don't expect any of this to change your mind. We can agree to disagree -- that's the beauty of this country.

[Elena]

I don't think anyone has forgotten how much liberals and Democrats despised Bush. It may surprise Laura to know that I was a die-hard conservative all my life--always voted Republican and everything!--and was one of the last supporters of GW Bush. However, as Karen and Bob Herbert state, this has gone to a whole new level. When we have a (thankfully failed) VP candidate urging her followers to "reload" and putting crosshairs on a map of districts where she would like to see Democrats voted out of office, we have reached a dangerous place. I absolutely agree that all Republicans are not nasty or violent. I also know that I have had friends of 25+ years--good, close friends--who are Republicans & Tea Partyers who have insulted me deeply and continuously for leaving the fold. These people have gone off the rails and we don't need our national politicans (let alone TV and radio blowhards) fanning the flames.

[Elena]

OK, I know this is an opinion piece, but Krugman makes the point I was trying to make so much more effectively.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/opinion/26krugman.html